The War Within 11.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Joshuaj]

You're forgetting a very decay-oriented character that escaped Dragonflight for parts unknown.

Also, Denathrius and the Nathrezim. Who classically have both farted Decay and also tied to the Plaguelands.

I actually have a thing for both narratives in my fan speculation:

Was thinking the next Saga would be Order Vs Disorder themed, with the first expac involving Outland getting revamped + us going to Xoroth, Rancora, and Nathreza in the patches (Rancora and Xoroth can be in 14.1, and Nathreza can be in 14.2, or vice versa for Xoroth and Nathreza idk. This would bring Denathrius and the Dreadlords back), the second expac would be Order Realm themed, and the third expac would be Disorder Realm themed beyond the world's we've seen so far in the outer layers of the Nether.

The next Saga would be expedition themed, with us going to Azeroth's islands + seeing a Southern EK and Southern Kalimdor revamp in the first expac, us going to Avaloren in the second expac, and us exploring Azeroth's celestial bodies the third expac.

And the third saga would be about nature, with us exploring more of the dream in the first patch to deal with Life's Overgrowth on Azeroth (This will lead to a Northern Kalimdor revamp), us returning the spirit to Azeroth and battling the forces of Decay (We'll also explore past Azeroth's Elemental domains and meet the cosmic embodiments of the Elements for the first time) + A Pandaria Revamp, and the third expac could be about us going to the Life Domain!

- - - Updated - - -

In those 3 Sagas I'd like to see happen, you'd revamp all of Old Azeroth, you'd revamp Outland and Pandaria, and you'd give us new lands to explore. Oh, you'd also solve things like Denathrius and the Dreadlords + the whole Decay thing that's being built up.That, imo, would be the best way to go about things.

- - - Updated - - -

Would love to see a place akin to Portugal or so at wherever this Arathi Empire is (I called it Avaloren, cause let's face it, that's most likely the name of the land).

[Darkarath]

I don't think that would fit with Iridkron's MO as he wants to save Azeroth from the titans, not plague it. Unless the idea is the plague would be a reset button.

I can definitely see Denathrius planning on killing everything and everyone on Azeroth for a necromantic army + anima + revenge.

Decatriarch's involvement in this is a bit iffy but Gnoll + Decay would check out with the EK in general. I was thinking she(?) would be a fun new villain for a revamped racial starting zone, be it Nelf or Human. Maybe they will just get thrown at a general area by one of the big baddies be it Iridikron, Denny or Xal.

I think that it is pretty clear that Iridikron does not give a shit about Azeroth. He only wants his revenge. We all know that by himself he will not be able to kill any Titan, even at their current state. Hence Iridikron has to get a massive increase in power, I think that Decay fits more than Void for him. We already had Void Dragons.

Oh man, he can actually even bring back Malygos as a Decay bastard! How cool would that be? He can raise an army of Decay Dragons. Plenty of corpses in Northrend for that.

I think that Denathrius would be more involved with the Legion when it comes back, but who knows?

[Enrif]

It's amazing how people jump from "Ion mentioned 20 years, that must mean classic areas!", even though when Midnight releases 2026 it will be 19 years since TBC and Midnight will go into 2027, making it a full 20 years. Also, saying "20 years" can be just the ball park, as 19 is close enough to 20 to say something was 20 years ago.
Also, we visited classic areas 15 years ago during Cataclysm. So that point is moot anyway.

What he meant was likely, quite literal, just the Quel'Thalas areas (since we had a revisit of the Outland zones in WoD). At most, perhaps the Draenei zones too, but that is a stretch.

[Enrif]

Also, the quote from Ion is:

We'll be going to some old places in Midnight and see how they've changed in the last 20 years.

He doesn't say, something not seen for 20 years (i.e. more than 20 years), but something last seen within the last 20 years (i.e. something between 15 and 20 years)

[Sondrelk]

It's amazing how people jump from "Ion mentioned 20 years, that must mean classic areas!", even though when Midnight releases 2026 it will be 19 years since TBC and Midnight will go into 2027, making it a full 20 years. Also, saying "20 years" can be just the ball park, as 19 is close enough to 20 to say something was 20 years ago.
Also, we visited classic areas 15 years ago during Cataclysm. So that point is moot anyway.

What he meant was likely, quite literal, just the Quel'Thalas areas (since we had a revisit of the Outland zones in WoD). At most, perhaps the Draenei zones too, but that is a stretch.

That is quite a stretch though.
Which is more likely? He is absolutely literal, and he calculated the likely Midnight release to find a number that makes sense at that specific point in time? Or that he referenced the widely publicized, and fresh in players' memory 20th anniversary, which is closer to the number you would get at the moment the interview took place?

Very much sounded to me like he was hyping up Midnight as generally a long awaited world revamp. In which case players are generally more excited about a wider array of zones, rather than two very specific ones.

Also, if you want to take his words literally. Then he did say revamped zones have changed. Not How Revamped zones have had more stuff added to them. Which seems like it would have fit better with the idea of Quel'thalas getting a massive size increase to fit the expansion launch size.

[Enrif]

read also my last post.

how they've changed in the last 20 years

Means anything within 20 years. Not something 20 years or older.

[Darkarath]

New cinematic?

Gallywix is just fantastic.

[Enrif]

New cinematic?

hmm, not that exciting. Pretty much as expected.

[Cheezits]

For Midnight I've said it before and I'll say it again: you can't get a varied expansion launch out of Eversong, Ghostlands and Zul'aman alone without going south or making up new shit (Naga zone, flying Draenei island).

[Sondrelk]

For Midnight I've said it before and I'll say it again: you can't get a varied expansion launch out of Eversong, Ghostlands and Zul'aman alone without going south or making up new shit (Naga zone, flying Draenei island).

You can. It's just that every logical theme for Quel'thalas comes with a big neon sign asking why we don't do this in places with even most nostalgic appeal and relevance. Like the Scourge, and not referencing Stratholme, Scholomance, the Plaguelands, or Light's Hope Chapel. Or Sylvanas, and not actually going to Lordaeron.

It's possible. But it would be a really weird decision whose only justification would be specifically not wanting to use those areas.

[Enrif]

For Midnight I've said it before and I'll say it again: you can't get a varied expansion launch out of Eversong, Ghostlands and Zul'aman alone without going south or making up new shit (Naga zone, flying Draenei island).

Naga Zone is the most likely addition, and fits 100% to the things we know: Naga are elves, so they fit perfectly in the elven reunification plot. Queen Azhara is dealing with higher powers of the void, matching Midnights Void theme. Also, Quel'danas in TBC had Naga on it.

[Ersula]

You're forgetting a very decay-oriented character that escaped Dragonflight for parts unknown.

Don't remind me how Dragonflight's back-end had all the narrative threads ready to add Druids for all, Shaman for all, Paladins for all, Tuskaar allied race and Gnoll Allied race and the devs threw them all in the trash. Instead they focused way too much on "new night elf city but not really"

[Joshuaj]

read also my last post.



Means anything within 20 years. Not something 20 years or older.

Sure, but the way Maria was looking at Ion, I imagine they want things to be a surprise for some reason.

- - - Updated - - -

New cinematic?

Gallywix: *I shown in the shadows and acts like a pissed off yet cowardly mob boss*

YouTube comments: DREADLORD!

...

[Marlamin]

Rather high likelihood of 11.1.5 PTR hitting this week after that catalog change. Busy week. So tired.

[Enteroctopus Magnificus]

We already had two hypotheses for Midnight from the start: either it's centered solely on Quel'Thalas, or there are a few southern areas like the Plaguelands. The way Maria looks at Ion when he talks about returning to old areas that have changed over the last 20 years leads me to believe that there's more to it than Quel'Thalas. I don't know what they're planning, but Midnight seems to be huge.

Also, no one talks about it but... she said at one point “there are other surprises too, wait a minute... where are these people coming from?”. Maybe we should find out...”

She confirms that we will definitely be going to Avaloren to meet the Arathi Empire.

[Cheezits]

Rather high likelihood of 11.1.5 PTR hitting this week after that catalog change. Busy week. So tired.

Ironically the actual Dark Heart story is entirely complete today, so they can spoil the story of next patch pretty quickly.

- - - Updated - - -

Also, no one talks about it but... she said at one point “there are other surprises too, wait a minute... where are these people coming from?”. Maybe we should find out...”

Could this not refer to the Haranir, and if it's about Midnight, the Ethereals? Sounds like that would fit K'aresh.

[Sondrelk]

Could this not refer to the Haranir, and if it's about Midnight, the Ethereals? Sounds like that would fit K'aresh.

Could refer to lots of stuff obviously. But I feel the Arathi are the most likely since they come from somewhere we have not seen or really heard about. They are also the possibility that makes most sense with teh whole Elven reuinification thingy they are going, what with being a nation of half elves.

- - - Updated - - -

Rather high likelihood of 11.1.5 PTR hitting this week after that catalog change. Busy week. So tired.

Try to take a relaxing break. Maybe partake in some traditional Kakapo activities (though hopefully not shagging National Geographic cameramen)

[Enrif]

two more cinematics from the new patch
https://www.wowhead.com/news/spoiler...-matter-374384

Don't know about any of you guys. But that ethereal doesn't look like it is working for Xal'ataht. Right?

[Kiivar86]

The Gallywix and Xal'atath cinematic looks great as ever but its pretty meh, otherwise. But good for setting purposes, if nothing else.

[Cheezits]

So I'm guessing whatever Nightfall ends up being, it will directly deal with Phase-Thief Azir. As he is the last direct plot beat that is open for the story we can access today, and we seem to be getting a patch reveal before the raid next week (which doesn't continue the major plot). It also PROBABLY isn't Rootlands related as that will be next major patch.

Megadungeon in Beledar or a pocket of K'aresh? "Kill" Xal and she runs away to Midnight while Rootlands is a clean up loose ends operation? Who knows.

Something completing the Nerubian story would be fun.